More about connectivity: Experiencing serial port

[afarre]

Few days ago I built an all-in-one Axim (usb client + VGA + RS232 + power) adaptor because I am planning to use all at a time.
You can see it in thread picture and also in video II at post #42 of my thread X51V to desktop/carputer & USB Host video demonstration

My first attempt to use RS232 was with an OBD-II car diagnostics adaptor (shown in video II), it did not work.
After that I tried to connect with serial port of my ADSL router and it did not work either.

After a long search & read all about RS232 in aximsite, I found out Axim serial port cannot be directly used because voltage levels are TLL and it does not complies RS232 spec, also signals seems to be inverted.
List of useful links:

Dell AXIM x50v Connector Break Out Board
Axim x50v cradle connector plug available - Aximsite
X50V pin layout?
X50v self-made serial cable

:exc: I also found a big warning here and here about not to do what I already did, because it can burn Axim TTL port.
Fortunately I did not burn anything.

Finally, I built suggested circuit here or here that drives signal to proper RS232 levels and everything started to work :approve:

I am using 1uF capacitors.
I am using MAX232, but at some post I read a recommendation to use MAX3232 instead because it better holds high baud rates.
Both specs says they work up to 120kbps, but I hope Max3232 is better because it costs €3.80, MAX232 is only €0.85 :scratch_h

In thread picture you can see RS232 circuit driver inlined to my all-in-one adaptor.
Picture has big resolution just in case you want to zoom it in.
The other IC shown is just a 5v regulator because I am planning to power it from car 12v
Btw, I have not decided where to take 5v. I would like to have my adaptor as an independent unit with circuit inside RS232 connector, but I do not know where to take 5v without dependencies. Any suggestion?
PDA display shows dialog with serial port of my ADSL modem. I am using mToken terminal application but Tera Term woks also fine and it is free.

:exc: To finish just a couple of warnings:

Dealing with RS232 is always critical. It used to not forgive errors. This time I have been lucky but It would not be first time I burn a serial port.
Using a IC driver is always a good idea, it becomes a fuse!.
When connecting a device, make sure it has been built to be connected to a computer.
Otherwise like connecting PDA to desktop, or desktop COM1 to desktop COM2, you need to cross lines TX/RX, RTS/CTS, DTR/DSR:
Another way to burn serial ports is connecting TX to TX.

[SadiaV]

Did You try to connect mouse to RS232 port?

[afarre]

Did You try to connect mouse to RS232 port?

I just have one serial mouse and I am not too much sure if it works.
Where can I get a mouse driver for PDA?

[SadiaV]

Well, about whether it works or not - just connect Your mouse to a PC and You will see;)
About drivers... Maybe there is sth like default drivers for mouses:) (like in normal PC)...

[afarre]

Well, about whether it works or not - just connect Your mouse to a PC and You will see;)
About drivers... Maybe there is sth like default drivers for mouses:) (like in normal PC)...

Sorry for my short answer. When I said I was not sure if it already works, I meant I already tested it with my computer.
Let me see if I find some other serial mouse that first work on my computer.

[afarre]

About drivers... Maybe there is sth like default drivers for mouses:) (like in normal PC)...

It does not seem WM5 to have mouse serial driver.
See this link: http://www.windowsfordevices.com/art...401319437.html

[SadiaV]

Hmm. As I see, there is sth like a driver for WinCE. Haven't You tried these drivers? (Moreover, how does these driver work? Does WinCE give a message with a suggestion to select new device or what? )

[afarre]

First of all I have to say I have my serial mouse "partially" working. I had some broken lines in the wire, but now only buttons are functional (at least in my computer). Probably enough to test.

Hmm. As I see, there is sth like a driver for WinCE. Haven't You tried these drivers?

Sorry, I do not understand what drivers you are referring to, can you give me a link?

(Moreover, how does these driver work? Does WinCE give a message with a suggestion to select new device or what? )

I do not understand this question either. If you mean the driver at the link in my previous post, it is just the source code, I have not tried it because a dll must be generated. I have Visual Studio 8 + WM5 SDK in my computer, I tried to compile it but it does not match my SDK, a lot of *.h files are missing. I would prefer finding an already done driver better that fighting against that source code.

[SadiaV]

sorry for my poor English

I thought that the link (http://www.windowsfordevices.com/art...401319437.html) is with the drivers... (or sth like that)

As I see there everything isn't as simple as I thought...

Well, please let me (or should I say us all aximsite visitors) know if you succeed in connecting anything to RS232.

I do not understand this question either.

I was talking about drivers, that You were asked when You had connected Your, for example, USB mouse (in video demonstation). In normal PC, when any device is connected, You are asked for a driver, so, I guess, the same is in Axim... Or not?


Thanks for your time answering my questions.

[wmastej]

Few days ago I built an all-in-one Axim (usb client + VGA + RS232 + power) adaptor because I am planning to use all at a time.
You can see it in ....
.[/I][/COLOR]

I like what you’ve done with the your all in on adapter cable!
I am building something similar however with not much success.
At this movement I want to built just serial cable. I’ve read your poste and many others and decided to built my own serial cable.

I would like to ask you what type of tests did you use to test if your cable worked correctly?

Also I’ve noticed on the picture that you included under thread picture that you didn’t use all the five capacitors that are in the schematic, or maybe they are hidden somewhere?

Any input on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[afarre]

I like what you’ve done with the your all in on adapter cable!
I am building something similar however with not much success.
At this movement I want to built just serial cable. I’ve read your poste and many others and decided to built my own serial cable.

I would like to ask you what type of tests did you use to test if your cable worked correctly?

Also I’ve noticed on the picture that you included under thread picture that you didn’t use all the five capacitors that are in the schematic, or maybe they are hidden somewhere?

Any input on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I just reviewed my first post I have not found anything else to add.
It is curious, all five capacitors are there, but they are behind the voltage regulator IC and the only visible capacitor.
About serial devices I only have an OBD2 car interface and my old ADSL modem witch has serial input for terminal control. It worked PERFECT with ADSL modem. I loaded a Terminal app in my PDA and I played surfing ADSK modem control menus.
I was thinking aobut building an RS232 crossed wire to make some test with my desktop computer, but I decided the test with ADSL modem was enough.

I was not so lucky with my OBD2 car interface, but I am afraid I have a problem with that interface. I want to test it first with a laptop computer but... now a days it is so difficult to find one with serial port!!.

Building a connector is very difficult because there is almost no room to work. I started from a Dell VGA cable and an expert in micro-soldering did the rest.

[wmastej]

I just reviewed my first post I have not found anything else to add.
It is curious, all five capacitors are there, but they are behind the voltage regulator IC and the only visible capacitor.
About serial devices I only have an OBD2 car interface and my old ADSL modem witch has serial input for terminal control. It worked PERFECT with ADSL modem. I loaded a Terminal app in my PDA and I played surfing ADSK modem control menus.
I was thinking aobut building an RS232 crossed wire to make some test with my desktop computer, but I decided the test with ADSL modem was enough.

I was not so lucky with my OBD2 car interface, but I am afraid I have a problem with that interface. I want to test it first with a laptop computer but... now a days it is so difficult to find one with serial port!!.

Building a connector is very difficult because there is almost no room to work. I started from a Dell VGA cable and an expert in micro-soldering did the rest.

Thanks for your input.

I suppose I’ll have to go over all the connection once again and make sure I connected everything according to the schematic. Also maybe I don’t have problem with serial cable but the device I’m testing it on.
I will try to make test with desktop computer as you’ve mentioned and see what happens.
Thanks again.